The King's legacy

Arnold Palmer won his first Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale in 1961. With the famous Southport course set to stage The 154th Open in 2026, we take a closer look at Palmer’s watershed victories … and his enduring legacy.

Golf has been played by some of the greatest sportspeople in history, from Jack Nicklaus to Tiger Woods – but only one is known as ‘The King’.

Arnold Palmer’s impact on golf – and sport – cannot be overstated.

Not only did he elevate the appeal of The Open in the US, not only did he popularise golf like no other player before him; he also completely changed the face of sports marketing, long before Michael Jordan had laced up his first pair of sneakers.

Palmer’s famous ‘handshake’ with his close friend and legendary IMG founder Mark McCormack in 1960 paved the way for sports stars to earn a handsome living away from their day jobs. It was a simple gesture which started a revolution.

While the leading lights of today can be grateful to Palmer for his foresight and trust in McCormack’s business acumen, it was on the golf course where The King’s influence was felt the most and where his greatness will be forever celebrated.

Arnold was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 1929, the son of Doris and Deacon Palmer, the head professional at Latrobe Country Club. It was at Latrobe where Deacon first taught a young Arnold how to grip a club. The rest, as they say, is history.

After establishing himself as the finest player in the region, the springboard for Palmer’s ascent was winning the US Amateur title in 1954, turning professional just a few months later.

He quickly won an array of fans (Arnie’s Army) with his power and his swashbuckling, go-for-broke style. Why lay-up when you can fire straight at the pin?

Palmer’s first success in the paid ranks came at the Canadian Open in August 1955. He racked up another seven victories by the time he approached his fourth Masters appearance, in 1958.

A first major title was secured at Augusta – by one stroke from compatriots Doug Ford and Fred Hawkins – quickly followed by a second green jacket in 1960.

Then came a pivotal moment in not only Palmer’s career, but in the history of The Open – something he would later refer to as “the trip”; Palmer’s journey to compete in golf’s original Championship, at St Andrews in 1960.

Already a Masters and US Open champion that year, Palmer had designs on winning a modern Grand Slam, in a nod to the achievement of the great Bobby Jones in 1930.

But The Open hadn’t been won by an American since Ben Hogan in 1953. The chances of that changing in 1960 were slim; Palmer was one of only four Americans in the field at St Andrews. That was four more than had competed at Muirfield 12 months earlier.

At the beginning of the 1960s, every golfer had to make it through a 36-hole qualifying event to reach The Open. Americans were reluctant to make their way across the pond at their own expense to play on unfamiliar links terrain.

Palmer had other ideas and he attacked St Andrews like only he could; a man so strong he was once described as having a handshake that could crush a walnut.

He was undoubtedly the star attraction in Scotland that week and came within a single stroke of winning the Claret Jug on debut, only to be pipped by Australian Kel Nagle.

He would return in 1961. “The Open and I had some unfinished business,” he said.

Palmer qualified for Royal Birkdale at nearby Hillside Golf Club – and went on to shoot rounds of 70-73-69-72 to inflict a one-stroke defeat of his own, on Welshman Dai Rees.

His most famous shot from that watershed victory was a 6-iron on the 15th (now the 16th) from the base of a bush onto the green that is now marked by a plaque.

Palmer had fulfilled his dream of becoming Champion Golfer, and only the third American after Hogan and Sam Snead to win the Claret Jug in the previous three decades. And with the help of transatlantic broadcasting, Americans sat up and took notice.

The King returned to the US and continued to do what he did best; win golf tournaments. He lifted the Palm Springs Golf Classic title in February 1962 and the Phoenix Open a week later.

He donned a third green jacket in the April followed by three more victories in the spring – before another pilgrimage to Britain to defend his Open crown, accompanied by fellow Americans Gene Littler, Phil Rodgers and 22-year-old US Open champion Nicklaus.

A sun-baked Royal Troon was the venue, and a typically front-footed Palmer was not deterred by the dry fairways and speedy greens.

Rounds of 71 and 69 nudged Palmer two ahead of Nagle, while a 67 in the third round put Palmer five clear. He birdied the 72nd hole for a closing 69 to win by six.

Palmer’s winning total of 276 beat the Open record by two strokes and would not be bettered until 1977. He also became just the second player after Hogan, in 1953, to win the Masters and The Open in the same year.

Within eight years of turning professional, Palmer had established himself as one of golf’s all-time greats.

Not only did he win countless tournaments with his own unique, powerful style, he transformed golfers’ opinions of The Open in his homeland to such an extent that American involvement in the Championship grew markedly thereafter, an interest that has remained strong to this day. Indeed, the last three Claret Jugs have all been won by Americans; Brian Harman (2023), Xander Schauffele (2024) and Scottie Scheffler (2025).

"I kept playing, I kept bringing the message," said Palmer. "I realised it was something that was very important to golf.

"In this day and age, I don't think there's a top player in the world who thinks The Open isn't one of the most important tournaments in the world. Absolutely play it. It's not about the money or the travel or the weather. It's about careers. Nobody should forget that."

Palmer left his own indelible mark not just on golf, but on all who crossed his path. He never refused an autograph, never refused a request for a photograph and always had time to talk to everyone he met.

A golfing superstar. An icon. A King.